Overview: Interpolate Empty Values

Interpolation is the estimation of a value between two known values. It is a method of constructing new data points or replacing empty values within a range of a discrete set of known data points.

Interpolation in this operation is linear: If two known points are represented as coordinates, the linear interpolant is the straight line between these points. Linear interpolation is often used to fill the gaps in a table, and using this operation, it is possible to fill all the empty values of the dataset with an interpolated value.

If the first value of your dataset is an empty value, it will remain empty, as there is no known initial value to be used for interpolation. This operation will interpolate integer, double and timestamp values.

Properties

Category:	Modify
Performance risk:	High potential performance risk. The performance is influenced by the size of the text file being imported, which is determined by number of rows and/or the number of columns of the dataset.
Knowledge required:	Working knowledge of the software.

Effect on datasets

How many datasets are required to perform this operation?	One
Does it create a new dataset?	No
Can you reconfigure this operation?	Yes
Can you apply this operation to a locked dataset?	No
Does it modify the current dataset in any way?	Yes

Requirements

A dataset with at least one field containing null values.

Results

A modified dataset where all the null values of integer, double or timestamp fields are replaced with interpolated values.
Interpolation follows a straight gradient.
The first value of a fields will not be replaced with an interpolated value.